Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Module Instructions
The following module contains a number of blue, underlined terms which are hyperlinked to the dermatology glossary, an illustrated interactive guide to clinical dermatology and dermatopathology. We encourage the learner to read all the hyperlinked information.
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Waxes and wanes during a patients lifetime, is often modified by treatment initiation and cessation and has few spontaneous remissions
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Clinical findings in patients frequently overlap in more than one category Different types of psoriasis may require different treatment
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Guttate Psoriasis
Acute onset of raindrop-sized lesions on the trunk and extremities Often preceded by streptococcal pharyngitis
Inverse/Flexural Psoriasis
Erythematous plaques in the axilla, groin, inframammary region, and other skin folds May lack scale due to moistness of area
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Pustular Psoriasis
Characterized by psoriatic lesions with pustules. Often triggered by corticosteroid withdrawal. When generalized, pustular psoriasis can be life-threatening. These patients should be hospitalized and a dermatologist consulted. 12
Palmoplantar Psoriasis
May occur as either plaque type or pustular type. Often very functionally disabling for the patient. The skin lesions of reactive arthritis typically occur on the palms and soles and are indistinguishable from this form of psoriasis.
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Psoriatic Erythroderma
Involves almost the entire skin surface; skin is bright red Associated with fever, chills, and malaise Like pustular psoriasis, hospitalization is sometimes required
See the module on Erythroderma for more information
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Question
How would you describe these lesions? What type of psoriasis does this patient have?
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Plaque Psoriasis
Well-demarcated plaques with overlying silvery scale and underlying erythema Chronic plaque psoriasis is typically symmetric and bilateral
Plaques may exhibit:
Auspitz sign (bleeding after removal of scale) Koebner phenomenon (lesions induced by trauma)
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Psoriasis: Pathogenesis
Psoriasis is a hyperproliferative state resulting in thick skin and excess scale Skin proliferation is caused by cytokines released by immune cells Systemic treatments of psoriasis target these cytokines and immune cells
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Case One
Mr. Ronald Gilson
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Erythematous plaque with overlying silvery scale is present in the gluteal cleft (gluteal pinking)
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Case Two
Mr. Bruce Laney
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Psoriatic Onychodystrophy
Nail psoriasis can occur in all psoriasis subtypes Fingernails are involved in ~ 50% of all patients with psoriasis. Toenails in 35% Changes include:
Pitting: punctate depressions of the nail plate surface Onycholysis: separation of the nail plate from the nail bed Subungual hyperkeratosis: abnormal keratinization of the distal nail bed Trachyonychia: rough nails as if scraped with sandpaper longitudinally
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Symptoms can range from mild to severe Occurs in 10-25 percent of patients with psoriasis
Can occur at any age, but for most it appears between the ages of 30 and 50 years It is NOT related to the severity of psoriasis
Desquamation of the overlying skin as well as joint swelling and deformity (arthritis mutilans) of both feet
Swelling of the PIP joints of the 2-4th digits, DIP involvement of the 2nd digit
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Case Three
Ms. Sonya Hagerty
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Psoriasis: Treatment
Since the psoriasis is localized (less than 5% body surface area), topical treatment is appropriate First line agents: high potency topical steroid in combination with calcipotriene (vitamin D analog) Other topical options: tazarotene, salicylic or lactic acid, tar, calcineurin inhibitors
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Psoriasis: Treatment
Factors that influence type of treatment:
Age Type of psoriasis: plaque, guttate, pustular, erythrodermic psoriasis Site and extent of psoriasis: localized = <5% of BSA generalized = diffuse or >30% involvement Previous treatment Other medical conditions
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Psoriasis: Treatment
Patients with localized plaque psoriasis can be managed by a primary care provider Psoriasis of all other types should be evaluated by a dermatologist
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Uses in Psoriasis
Plaque-type psoriasis
Side Effects
Skin atrophy, hypopigmentation, striae Skin irritation, photosensitivity (but no contraindication with UVB phototherapy)
Calcipotriene Use in combination with topical (Vitamin D derivative) steroids for added benefit Tazarotene (Topical retinoid) Salicylic or Lactic acid (Keratolytic agents) Coal tar Calcineurin inhibitors Plaque-type psoriasis. Best when used with topical corticosteroids. Plaque-type psoriasis to reduce scaling and soften plaques
Clinical Pearl
Topical medications for psoriasis are more effective when used with occlusion which allows for better penetration A bandage, saran-wrap, gloves, or socks placed over the medication can serve this purpose
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Oral steroids should never be used in psoriasis as they can severely flare psoriasis upon discontinuation
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Systemic Treatment
There are 3 choices for systemic treatment:
1. Phototherapy: narrow-band ultraviolet B light (nbUVB), broad-band ultraviolet B light (bbUVB), or psoralen plus ultraviolet A light (PUVA) 2. Oral medications: methotrexate, acitretin, cyclosporine 3. Biologic Agents: T- cell blocker (alefacept), TNF- inhibitors (infliximab, etanercept, adalumimab), IL 12/23 blocker (ustekinumab)
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Systemic Treatment
The choice of systemic therapy depends on multiple factors:
convenience side effect risk profile presence or absence of psoriatic arthritis co-morbidities
Systemic treatment for psoriasis should be given only after consultation with a dermatologist
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Acknowledgements
This module was developed by the American Academy of Dermatology Medical Student Core Curriculum Workgroup from 2008-2012. Primary authors: Sarah D. Cipriano, MD, MPH; Eric Meinhardt, MD; Timothy G. Berger, MD, FAAD; Wilson Liao, MD, FAAD. Peer reviewers: Peter A. Lio, MD, FAAD; Jennifer Swearingen, MD. Revisions and editing: Sarah D. Cipriano, MD, MPH; John Trinidad. Last revised March 2011.
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